Roberto Baggio – The Sports Fan Project

This week the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off with a pair of Group A matches on Thursday in Mexico. Over the next 39 days another 102 matches will be contested across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, as the three nations serve as a tri-hosts of the event.

The last time a nation in North America hosted FIFA’s quadrennial futbol-a-palooza, it was 1994 and the USA played solo host.

The final was contested in the iconic Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, CA, before nearly 95,000 fans who turned out on July 17, 1994, to watch Brazil and Italy do battle.

It was mostly a defensive struggle as the teams’ played to a scoreless tie through 90 minutes of regulation, added injury time, and 30 minutes of extra time.

That set the stage for Penalty Kicks to decide the game’s world championship and it came down to the fifth and final Italian kick, after Brazil had three of its first four and Italy had only scored twice in four chances.

Roberto Baggio and Claudio Taffarel following Baggio's missed PK to coclude the 1994 FIFA World Cup — ^{The immediate aftermath of Italian Roberto Baggio’s missed penalty kick at the conclusion of the 1994 FIFA World Cup in Pasadena, CA’s, famed Rose Bowl Stadium. Brazilian goalkeeper Claudio Taffarel rejoices at his country’s victory, pointing his gloved fingers skyward. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Allsport)}

Reigning FIFA World Player of the Year, Roberto Baggio, a 27-year-old Italian midfielder who played professionally for Juventus, had the fate of Italy on his foot against Brazilian goalkeeper, Claudio Taffarel, who – ironically – played professionally for Italian club Reggiana.

Baggio’s right-footed boot sailed high over the crossbar and sent the Brazilian team and its faithful into a frenzy as it secured its fourth World Cup. The nation added a fifth eight years later during the Korea/Japan-hosted 2002 World Cup.

^{Footage from Baggio’s errant penalty kick via ESPN’s coverage of the 1994 FIFA World Cup Final at the Rose Bowl Stadium.}

Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.